Pulis challenged the order in the High Court but a judge ruled against him.

Details of the case have emerged in a written ruling published by the judge on Monday.

Pulis had a contract with the south London club which promised him a £2m bonus if he kept them in the Premier League at the end of the 2013-14 season and stayed in the manager’s job until 31 August 2014.

He secured Palace’s place in the top flight but did not stay until the required date, instead asking for the bonus earlier than agreed and then informing the club a day later he wanted to leave.

He departed the Palace the next day, on 14 August, on the eve of the new season.